Memorable moments: The Slide

As the baseball season truly gets into full swing – pun intended – this week, I’m going to highlight a couple of memorable moments and my special signed pieces related to them. Almost 32 years ago, the Atlanta Braves got to the World Series thanks to a spectacular slide by first baseman Sid Bream –

Boisterous Bisons: Jay Bell

Shortstop Jay Bell had a fascinating baseball career. He hit a home run off Hall of Fame pitcher Bert Byleven in his first Major League Baseball at-bat. He was a two-time all-star, a Gold Glove award-winner, a Silver Slugger award-winner and won a World Series championship. And he had two different stints in Buffalo with

Boisterous Bisons: Pete Filson

Left-handed pitcher Pete Filson had a spectacular summer in 1986 in Buffalo.  He went 8-1 as a starting pitcher for the Bisons with a 2.84 ERA, including four-game stretch in June where he pitched four consecutive complete-game wins.  In early July, he was moved to the team’s closer role, and unlike closers of today, Filson consistently worked

Boisterous Bisons: Marv Foley

Marv Foley always looked bigger and burlier than his actual 6-foot, 195-pound frame. Maybe it was the beard or the catcher’s equipment or simply the way he carried himself. The fan-friendly Foley, who played 90 games for the Buffalo Bisons over the 1985 and 1986 seasons, was one of my favorite ballplayers as a kid.

Boisterous Bisons: Steve Lyons

His nickname was “Psycho” for his eccentric behavior during his nine-year Major League Baseball career. Steve Lyons played tic-tac-toe and hangman with opposing base runners while in the field and using his spikes to mark the infield dirt. He once dropped his pants at first base to shake out some dirt after a slide. And

Underrated Yankees: Jim Coates

Tall, lanky and stoic yet intimidating, New York Yankees pitcher Jim Coates was a key piece of their standout teams of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Coates, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound right-hander, was a very effective spot starter and reliever for the Yankees, with a reputation for throwing at batters. Today, I am highlighting Coates

Underrated Yankees: Moose Skowron

Growing up, I learned about baseball history from my dad. He was a New York Yankees fan and he grew up in a legendary era – he was 12 when the 1961 Yankees dominated baseball with outfielders Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle competing for the home-run title (and single-season record). So he regaled me with

Underrated Yankees: Hector Lopez

As the first month of the 2024 Major League Baseball season draws to a close, I thought I’d write a few posts about some treasured pieces of my baseball collection: Signatures from some of the more underrated members of the legendary 1961 New York Yankees. Today, I’m focusing on outfielder Hector Lopez, a fan-friendly ballplayer

Big swingers, big hitters

Forty years ago today, Dave Kingman, above, hit three home runs, including a grand slam, for the Oakland As. Kingman, a 6-foot-6 power hitter nicknamed “King Kong,” finished his Major League Baseball career with 442 home runs, including one measured at a whopping 550 feet. He also struck out a lot – his 1,816 strikeouts

Baseball in the snow

Forty-seven years ago today, the Toronto Blue Jays hosted their first-ever Major League Baseball game. And not surprisingly, it snowed. The field at Exhibition Stadium was eventually cleared — using a hockey Zamboni! — almost 45,000 fans showed up, and the Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox to begin their MLB history. At only